Plan for sale of broadband stake

WHILE Southern Cross University continues to lobby hard to have the National Broadband Network rolled out on the North Coast first, the Federal Government revealed more of its plans for the revolutionary project yesterday.

The government unveiled its draft laws for the network and says it will sell its stake in NBN Co. five years after the network is up and running.

Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said the government proposed to take the legislation to parliament in the autumn or winter sittings, depending on the response to its draft of the two key bills.

Senator Conroy said the release of the draft laws followed a public consultation process conducted last year.

“These bills deliver on the Rudd government’s commitment to change the competitive dynamics of the telecommunications sector by ensuring NBN Co. will operate as a wholesale-only company, offering open and equivalent access,” he said in a statement.

“Releasing these exposure drafts is a very important first step towards providing certainty on how NBN Co. will operate and what its obligations will be.”

Senator Conroy said the government was keen to receive further feedback.